Preds to split Hannan/Ellis pairing

EDMONTON, Alberta The Predators are going to split up the Scott Hannan/Ryan Ellis defense pairing.

That’s what Predators coach Barry Trotz said earlier today. The pair is a combined minus-8 in its last two games, and was dominated by the Andrew Ebbett, Jannik Hansen and Mason Raymond line in a 7-4 loss to Vancouver.

In that game, Hannan and Ellis were a combined minus-7.

“(Scott’s) a minus-11, that’s not good enough,” Trotz said. ”Ryan has done some double-coverages on some of his defensive stuff. Together they’re not working. We’re going to pull them apart.”

Trotz said defenseman Jonathon Blum would be reinserted into the lineup, but didn’t say who would leave the lineup to make room for Blum.